BICUTAN, TAGUIG CITY - In the next two months, the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Offices, will jointly hold the 2022 Regional Scientific Meetings (RSMs). The RSMs are annually organized in the three major island clusters of the country namely Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as part of the NAST PHL’s and DOST’s long-standing commitment of bringing science closer to the Filipino people. The RSMs provide a venue for the discussion of relevant and timely regional concerns, and the presentation of S&T-based recommendations.

This year, NAST PHL has chosen PAGTANAW 2050 as the focus of the 2022 Regional Scientific Meetings (RSM) and its 44th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) to promote awareness and initiate the mobilization of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) community towards futures thinking and a sustainable blue and circular economy.

PAGTANAW 2050 is the first inter- and trans-disciplinal Philippine-focused STI Foresight to harness science and technology as tools towards innovations in products, processes, and organizations to develop our natural endowments as an archipelagic and maritime nation towards a blue and circular economy. Under the shared vision of a “Prosperous, Archipelagic, Maritime Nation”, PAGTANAW 2050 supports a technology-explicit development agenda for a globally competitive Philippine blue and circular economy that is knowledge-based, inclusive, and sustainable. PAGTANAW 2050 aims to nurture an educated, healthy, and productive citizenry.

In Filipino, “foresight” is aptly translated as “pagtanaw” which means “to look ahead from a high vantage point”. In the same manner, the 2022 RSMs aim assess regional STI talent and plan for regional STI talent development and retention which matches regional priorities and needs.

Revolving around the theme “PAGTANAW 2050: Agham Tungo sa Mabuting Kinabukasan (FORESIGHT 2050: Science for a Sustainable Future), the 2022 RSMs will include three plenary presentations. Academician William G. Padolina, chair of the NAST PHL Steering Committee on STI Foresight, will present an overview of PAGTANAW 2050. CHED Global Academic Leadership Program Director Dr. Frederico M. Macaranas will provide the perspective of management science for talent development and retention. Invited resource persons from NEDA Regional Offices and Regional Development Councils will discuss regional perspectives and experiences on COVID-19, natural disasters, and economic recovery.

The talks will be followed by focused group discussions (FGDs) in the areas of: (1) Food, Nutrition, and Health; (2) Environment and Climate Change; (3) Water and Energy; and (4) Built Environments. Various regional representatives from the academe, government, industry, and the private sector will be invited to participate in the FGDs.

The outputs and insights from the FGDs will be important inputs to the Resolutions of the 44th Annual Scientific Meeting which is scheduled on 13-14 July 2022.

Another highlight of the RSM is the annual scientific poster session. The annual contest will feature the latest regional research outputs of participating higher education institutions, research centers, and government agencies. Posters to be presented in the digital session were screened by the DOST Regional Offices.

The 2022 RSMs are scheduled on March 29-30 for Luzon, April 05-06 for Mindanao, and April 28-29 for Visayas. This year’s RSMs are going to be hosted by NAST PHL together with DOST Regional Office V (Luzon), DOST Regional Office VI (Visayas), and DOST Regional Office IX (Mindanao).

Due to the pandemic, the regional scientific meetings will be conducted virtually. Registration is FREE and open to the public. Public plenary sessions of the conference will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN. Participants will receive an e-certificate for both dates of the regional meeting upon submission of an accomplished evaluation form (Ryan John Pascual/NAST PHL).

Registration Links

The National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL) is an attached agency to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) mandated by law (Executive Order 818 s.1982) to serve as adviser to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the cabinet on policies concerning science and technology in the country. For more updates, follow NAST Philippines’ (@nastphl) social media accounts.